Air purifier with extended humidity working range

Abstract

Presented is a device ( 100 ) for filtering air, comprising: an air filter ( 101 ) comprising: a first component ( 102 ) adapted for filtering air having a humidity level falling within a first humidity level range; and a second component ( 103 ) adapted for filtering air having a humidity level falling within a second humidity level range; a control system ( 106 ) configured for: receiving a sensed relative humidity of air, and selecting the first ( 102 ) or the second ( 103 ) component for filtering the air, depending on the sensed relative humidity of the air.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for filtering air, comprising:
 an air filter comprising: a first and a second component for filtering air; and 
 a control system configured for receiving a sensed relative humidity of air, 
 
       wherein:
 the first component is adapted for filtering air having a humidity level falling within a first humidity level range; 
 the second component is adapted for filtering air having a humidity level falling within a second humidity level range different from the first humidity level range; and 
 wherein the control system is further configured for selecting the most efficient component for filtering the air from the first or the second component depending on the sensed relative humidity of the air and depending on filtering efficiency of the first and the second component for the sensed relative humidity of the air. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is moveable such that the first or the second component can be selected and moved into an air flow path. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is rotatable such that the first or the second component can be selected by rotating the first or the second component into or towards an air flow path. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a rotor coupled to the air filter and the control system, and wherein the control system is further configured to calculate a position angle of the rotor depending on the sensed air humidity level. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter has two opposing sides, one side comprising the first component and the other side comprising the second component. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one other air filter positioned parallel to the air filter, and wherein the device is further configured such that sides of all air filters comprising the same component can be selected and rotated simultaneously towards an air flow path for filtering air with a plurality of similar selected components. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is positioned in a container, and further comprising a mechanical system for selecting the first or the second component such that the first or the second component is positioned out of the container in an air flow path. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a heating element adapted for heating the container such that a component of the air filter can be regenerated. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a moveable cover adapted for covering the first or the second component, depending on the sensed air humidity level, such that an uncovered component is exposed to an air flow path. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a high humidity effective layer, and wherein the second component comprises a low humidity effective layer. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first humidity level range is a humidity range of 0 to 50% relative humidity and wherein the second humidity level range is a humidity range of 50 to 100% relative humidity. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is replaceable. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a humidity sensor for sensing the humidity level of the air. 
     
     
       14. A method for filtering air, comprising:
 providing a set of filters, each filter of the set having a different working range regarding relative humidity of air; 
 sensing a relative humidity of air; 
 selecting the filter type from the set of filters; 
 wherein: 
 the method further comprises: 
 determining a most efficient filter type for filtering air depending on the sensed relative humidity; and 
 placing the filter type in an air flow path. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the relative humidity of air is sensed continuously and wherein the determining, selection and placing of the filter type is done based on the continuously sensed relative humidity.